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How To Make Money Living In The Mountains – 10 Solid Business Ideas

Posted on by Nan

Making money when you are living in a mountain town can be challenging since established businesses are scarce. Here are several solid home business ideas for independent mountain dwellers.

Folks who live in small mountain communities can vary from young families with children to middle-aged singles, to senior retirees. All of these groups have needs that are not readily available away from larger cities. I live in one of those villages, and below are the 5 necessities that come up again and again. If any of these ideas fit your skills, you can make money living in the mountains.

  1. Home Services
  2. Skilled trade services
  3. Recreational vehicle rentals and guides
  4. Office services
  5. Campsites

If your skills are not in those areas – not to worry! Here are five more ways to make a good living in a little mountain town.

6. Land Flipping: buy up lots at land auctions or from private parties who no longer have an interest. Improve the cosmetics a bit (clear some trees and brush, make a flat spot) and then resell them at a profit.

7. Online Sales: eBay, Etsy, and Amazon all have a wide-open market for resale. Etsy especially is geared to handmade items and also craft supplies that are hard to come by in the city – think pinecones, acorns, dried and pressed wildflowers, cactus skeletons, and downed wood cleaned and cut. Here are some ideas from Pinterest.

8. Gardening: Fresh produce is always welcome in a small town located far from the nearest grocery store. Whether you grow your own or maintain someone else’s garden or greenhouse, this is a winner for rural areas.

9. Building Furniture: I live in a pinon and ponderosa forest. Building material is everywhere. Rustic, genuine, locally crafted handmade chairs, tables, patio furniture, and garden benches will be in high demand. If you can produce a lot, advertise them for sale on Craigslist where you can upload pictures. You can usually get a wood cutting permit from the forest service if you do not have any useful material on your own property.

10. Firewood Supply: A no-brainer for mountain towns. Firewood cut, split, delivered, and stacked is in demand starting in the fall and going through winter. You can get a permit to cut wood at the local forest service or ranger station, or you can offer to clear trees for heavily treed lots that need thinning.

Within the ten broad groups listed above are dozens of related sub-groups that a smart and motivated mountain dweller can make into a steady income. Below are some expanded ideas from the top five.

Home Services

Home services are especially needed in communities of retired people. This can include home help services such as grocery shopping or picking up meds at the pharmacy. You can schedule a run ‘down the hill’ for a certain day each week, and make a list for each of your clients. You will probably need a large vehicle, truck, or van.

House cleaning services are always needed. Yard work (keeping the walking paths clear and the weeds cut away from the propane tank). Chimney cleaning, window cleaning. You can purchase a set of specific tools, so you always know you have the proper equipment.

Do not be shy about charging for these services. They take time and energy, not to mention the wear and tear on your vehicles and equipment. Seniors who have retired to live in the mountains have an income and they are happy to pay you to do the things they are no longer able (or just don’t want) to do.

Skilled Trade Services

Very lucrative. If a mountain dweller has to call down to the nearest home improvement center, they are going to be charged at least $150.00 for a service person just to drive up there. Having someone available on the mountain is a real blessing.

Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, internet technicians, and auto mechanics are all needed for maintenance, installation, and repair. Mechanics with a tire machine in the garage are golden!

Recreational Vehicle Rental and Tour Guides

Flatlanders love love love to ride around up in the mountains. Horseback riding used to be the thing, but food, health maintenance, and upkeep year-round for horses can be expensive for seasonal activities.

Four-Wheelers, Side-By-Sides, ATVs, or OHVs (all-terrain vehicles or off-highway vehicles) on the other hand, can be parked in a shop or a storage building for maintenance during the off-season.

In all US national forests, motor vehicles can be used only on roads, trails, or areas that are designated as open. This includes all motorized wheeled vehicles from ATVs to street-legal vehicles.

Guided tours during the fall color season, or for spring wildflowers will be packed with reservations for family excursions and photographers.

Office Services

This is a need that is often underfilled in rural towns. If you have a computer and a good printer you can offer office services from your own home office.

Bookkeeping, word processing, making flyers for events, or writing a local newsletter. Advertisement brochures for local businesses. Wills and trust documents.

If real estate is prolific in your area, there is always a need to type up and record documents with the county clerk. Anybody can do this. Deeds for land sales can be copied from an existing document, and details edited and prepared for a notary.

Packing and shipping services can be offered. If you are not already paying for a postage service like Stamps.com or Endicia.com, you can print postage right from your computer directly at the source for only the cost of postage. UPS, FedEx, or the good ol’ USPS postal service all have online postage and shipping available.

Campsite or RV Spaces

Hospitality. This is a biggie. Campgrounds are crowded during the summer seasons and the hunting seasons. Not everyone wants or needs to rent a cabin because they are traveling around with their trailer, backpacking, or just on a weekend adventure in the mountains. And there may not be an RV park or tent campground near your area.

If you have vacant land, you may consider letting someone camp there for a night weekend. Many of the RVs will be self-contained. If not, and they can run a water hose or electrical cord to their RV, even better.

Expanding on this idea, you could consider buying up adjacent lots near yours and creating a permanent camping space. If this idea is appealing to you, there are apps you can register with – kind of like an Airbnb for camping. Here are a few:

Harvest Hosts, Hipcamp, and Boondockers Welcome

Want more? The ideas laid out above were just a few, and many of them can be tweaked to fit your particular situation. Want to see my brainstorming list for this topic? I’ll be happy to share it with you.

MY BRAINSTORMING LIST – 20 more ideas

 

Hopefully, these will spark even more ideas for a creative solution to making money in a mountain community.

 

Life on the Mountain

Prepping for Winter in a Little Mountain Town

Posted on by Nan

Whether you are living in the mountains full-time, or part-time for the summer season, when the temperature starts to drop below 30F in the morning, it’s time to start prepping your home for the winter.

Staying? Winter for Full-Time Mountain Dwellers

Hopefully, those of you who have a wood-burning stove, have been stockpiling firewood for the winter weather. If you have a pellet stove, you should have a pallet of bags in your garage or shed. If you use propane to heat your home, you’ll want to keep that tank full because deliveries can be interrupted by severe weather conditions.

What is the best way to heat a mountain home? The most common ways to heat your home for winter are electricity, oil, propane, cordwood, and pellet fuel. Conditions will vary so choose the heat source that is best for your area.

Electricity is the most efficient because the thermostat maintains room temperatures accurately. It is also the most convenient, and (depending on your location) is cheaper than propane. But Electricity is reliant on the power staying on. Mountain towns can experience several power outages during the winter. If you can afford it, a whole-house generator will keep you warm and illuminated during a power outage.

Propane wall units are nice and have manual thermostatic control. Find a good setting and mark it on the dial so you know where to keep it most of the time. Be aware that propane can leave a film on windows and mirrors in the house. And they tend to make clicking noises going on and off all night which can be annoying if it is near your bedroom. But they put out great heat. Warmer than electric heat.

The cheapest way to heat a cabin through the winter season is a good wood stove. They are cozy and comforting and – if you are lucky enough to know a lumberjack – the fuel is cheap, especially if you live in a heavily wooded area, and can harvest wood from your own land.

Pellet stoves burn nice and clean, but hauling and storing the bags can be cumbersome, especially if you are tromping through several inches of snow. You will usually want to buy a pallet at a time to save money, and they will take up a lot of space in your garage or shed.

A little extra precaution for new residents. Be aware of carbon monoxide buildup when you are heating your home. A CO detector is inexpensive and could save your life. I like to keep a few high windows cracked for ventilation too. It helps.

Most Important Things to Keep in Mind:

Shopping. Always keep at least 2 weeks of food and household supplies on hand. Depending on the snowfall in your area, you may be stuck on the mountain for a week. Icy roads and winter storms are no fun to drive when you need groceries. With heavy snowfall, road closures will happen. Keep your car stocked with blankets, water, and a first aid kit. Snow tires and four-wheel drive vehicles are a must.

Fuel: For your vehicles, and for your portable generator. Small mountain towns may not have a gas or fuel station. Store the gas cans away from your home, but out of sight. Keep extra on hand because – guaranteed – a mountain newbie on his first winter will need to borrow gasoline.

Power outages: They will happen. Stow flashlights all over the house, and keep candles and matches where you can find them. Emergency lights are awesome. They are battery-powered and will turn on when the circuit is interrupted. A sudden power outage can catch you unaware, so having a light come on will allow you time to gather flashlights, start your portable generator, or set candles around.

Frozen water pipes: Leave a drip on overnight. As a general rule of thumb, in order for your home’s water pipes to freeze, the outside temperature needs to be below 20 degrees, for a total of at least six consecutive hours. A small, constant drip in one of your sinks will keep water moving through the meter, and keep the outdoor pipes from freezing. Your pipes inside the home are protected by the heat, but the distance from the water meter box out by the road, to your yard spigot, and then where it connects to the house is vulnerable to a hard freeze. Keep an eye on your weather forecast, they will let you know when there is a hard freeze in your area. Worried about ‘wasting’ water? Contact your local water company, the cost of 100 gallons of water is probably less than $1.00.

Clothing: If you are new to mountain living, you will be glad you read this next line. Snow pants. Nothing worse than wet clothes in freezing temperatures. You can pull them on over your jammies to run outside and grab some wood. Waterproof boots that you can slip on and off easily make a huge difference. Warm clothing is a no-brainer. And if you are inspired to go on a winter hike on a cold day, think of extra warmth. Beautiful blue skies don’t necessarily mean warm days, especially in higher elevations. Mother nature don’t play.

Things to buy BEFORE you get snowed in: Rock salt (or kitty litter works in a pinch). Flashlights with lots of batteries. Pet food. A good bottle of Scotch.

Leaving? Winter for Part-Time Mountain Dwellers

It’s been a great summer, but it’s time to head back to the city. Or – you’ve been back and forth to the cabin all season, but the National Weather Service lets you know that it’s turning cold and your city home will be more comfortable during the winter months.

Whatever your situation is, if you are going to be away from your mountain for any length of time, you need to winterize your cabin before you close it up.

The first thing to do is Protect your water pipes. Leaving water sitting in your pipes in a cold house over the winter is going to break them. The water freezes and expands inside the pipes, then the pipes crack, and when it warms up again, you get leaks that cause water damage.

One way to avoid cracked water pipes is to keep your empty house heated all winter. Expensive. So take about half an hour and drain your pipes. To drain your water pipes, go out to the water meter and close the shut-off valve between the meter and the house. Now, go inside the house and open all the faucets until they run dry. Close the faucets, and leave the meter shut off. You might even want to put a padlock on it, so nobody messes with it while you are gone.

Make sure all windows and doors are sealed. Weatherstripping is your friend. Felt strips for doors are easily installed and removed, and they will last a couple of years. Window inserts can be set in and removed easily. Sealing up your home will keep the dust and pollen out while you are away. For permanence, caulk around your windows and doors, and check them yearly for cracks. Caulk is harder to remove, but makes the best seal, and lasts for years.

Unplug your major appliances. Again with the power outages, something to remember – when the power is restored, there will either be a surge, or you will have (what we call) a brown-out. A brown-out is when only partial power is restored. This will burn up the motor in your refrigerator, trying to keep it to a set temperature. A surge may fry your TV, stereo system, or computer.

Fire Safety. Yes, forest fires can happen during the winter months, although they are not as common. Power lines break under the weight of snow and can ignite random fuel around the house. Lightning has no shame, it will hit anything it is attracted to. Be sure any dry vegetation and brush are cleared at least 100 feet around your home, trim tree branches that are near the roof, and for goodness sake, do not leave stacked firewood on your porch. Not only is it fuel, but critters will take up residence there and try to get into the house.

Simple Living

Mountain Kitchen Makeover – Simple Tips for Small Spaces

Posted on by Nan

Designing the Perfect Mountain Kitchen: Less Is More

Living in the mountains often means embracing smaller spaces, and your kitchen is no exception. After years of mountain living, I’ve learned that creating an efficient, functional kitchen isn’t about having every gadget imaginable—it’s about choosing the right tools and maximizing your space.

My Journey from Cluttered to Clean

When I first moved from the flatlands to the mountains, I brought every kitchen gadget I owned. Bread machines, food processors with countless attachments, multiple knife sets—you name it, I had it. I thought these tools would make cooking easier, but instead, they created chaos in my small space.

Mountain life taught me something valuable: simplicity works better. By my third year here, I realized I was only using a handful of items regularly, while expensive gadgets collected dust. Some hadn’t been touched since I’d moved to this little mountain town, and my “favorites” had completely changed.

The solution? I pared down my collection significantly, and I haven’t regretted it once (well, maybe I miss the margarita machine a little).

The Mountain Kitchen Essentials

Here’s what survived the great kitchen purge and what I actually use:

Cookware That Works Hard:

  • One excellent cast-iron skillet
  • A heavy cast-iron Dutch oven
  • A 13 x 9 glass baking pan
  • Large Corning casserole with lid
  • Three sizes of stainless steel pots with lids
  • One large aluminum stock pot
  • A commercial quality aluminum baking sheet

Tableware Simplified:

  • One complete set of everyday dishes, utensils, and steak knives
  • Six coffee cups (not 60!)
  • Two sizes of everyday glassware, four of each

The Tools That Matter:

  • Three quality kitchen knives: butcher, paring, and serrated
  • One favorite spatula and one big spoon
  • Standard measuring cups, measuring spoons, and one large 8-cup Pyrex
  • A flour sifter
  • Simple electric hand mixer
  • One stainless steel mixing bowl

Small Appliances I Actually Use:

  • Coffee maker
  • Blender
  • Toaster oven

The bonus? Significantly fewer dishes to wash!

What I Happily Let Go

Some items that seemed essential turned out to be space-wasters: bread machines, slow cookers, fancy china, elaborate knife blocks, food processors with endless attachments, non-stick cookware that doesn’t last, and even my microwave (though you might want to keep yours).

Yes, this is my dog – but you can see the island to the left, behind it is the dining area, walk right to the living room with a couch and TV, and in the center, a wood-burning stove.

Open Up Your Space

One of the best features of my mountain kitchen is that it flows into the living and dining areas, creating a true great room. If you can remove a wall or cut an open archway, you’ll transform how the space feels and functions.

This open concept solved my range hood problem, too. Traditional stovetop hoods can be bulky and visually intrusive, but with my stove positioned on an island in the open room, I eliminated the need for one entirely. The natural airflow handles cooking odors without mechanical assistance.

The real magic happens during gatherings. Instead of being isolated in the kitchen while guests enjoy themselves elsewhere, everyone naturally gravitates toward the cooking area. Friends help prepare food while watching the game, and conversation flows seamlessly from cooking to dining to relaxing.

Create Essential Pantry Space

Mountain living demands serious pantry planning. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a grocery store in your small mountain town, you’ll be making supply runs down the hill every few weeks or monthly.

Get creative with storage solutions. Convert a hall closet, sacrifice a guest bedroom, or invest in standalone cupboards for a spare room. I initially planned to use my basement because the steady 50°F temperature was perfect.  But accessing it proved inconvenient and honestly, a bit creepy. Converting a linen closet worked much better.

Stock up on staples: paper products, canned goods, dry goods, pet food, coffee, tea, grains, condiments, and space for home-canned surplus from your garden. Aim for a month’s supply if possible, but two weeks’ worth is absolutely essential, especially if winter snow can restrict travel and deliveries.

Remove Cabinet Doors for Instant Space

This simple change delivers impressive results. Open cabinets create the illusion of more space while eliminating the constant battle with cabinet door corners at head height.

The aesthetic benefits surprised me. Colorful dishes become decorative elements, glasses catch and reflect morning light beautifully, and everything becomes easier to access and put away. Your cookbook collection becomes part of the decor, and maintaining clean cabinets is actually simpler when you can see everything clearly.

Consider painting or varnishing the interior for a finished look, keeping “easy to wipe clean” as your guiding principle.

Maximize Natural Light

Mountain living often means forest living, which creates beautiful but challenging lighting conditions. Those majestic ponderosa and piñon pines that make your view spectacular also block precious daylight.

Start with safety and practicality: clear trees at least 100 feet from your home. This improves both natural light and fire safety, a critical consideration in mountain environments.

If structurally doable, add windows or skylights. Beyond the lighting benefits, additional windows help you monitor your property and identify what’s causing your dogs to sound the alarm.

For interior lighting, under-cabinet LED strips with individual switches provide excellent task lighting for food preparation. Recessed ceiling lights work well over work areas like the sink, while adjustable floodlights on top of cabinets offer ambient lighting. Just remember to choose adjustable fixtures—you don’t want glare interfering with your great room’s television viewing.

Pro tip for shorter folks: invest in a good grabber tool so you’re not constantly climbing on counters to adjust lighting!

The Mountain Kitchen Philosophy

Creating an efficient mountain kitchen isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about intentional choices. Every item should earn its place through regular use and genuine utility. The result is a space that feels larger, works harder, and supports the relaxed, connected lifestyle that drew you to the mountains in the first place.

Your kitchen should reflect mountain living at its best: simple, functional, and designed for bringing people together around good food and great conversation.

High Country Picks

5 Go-To Books for Rural Mountain Living (That You’ll Actually Use)

Posted on by Nan

Mountain living is its own adventure.

Sure, it’s peaceful. The air is crisp, the views are breathtaking, and at night, the only sounds are wind in the trees and the occasional coyote getting something off its chest. But let’s be honest—it also means the nearest grocery store is 50 miles away, dining out is either the home-style café (until 2pm) or the bar and grill (if they’re open), and you’re trying to grow vegetables at 7,000 feet where the air is thin and the rules are different.

Over the years, I’ve collected a small shelf of books that have made rural life not just manageable—but genuinely enjoyable. These are the ones I keep reaching for:

📚 The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery

A classic for a reason. This book covers everything from raising chickens to making soap. If you’re trying to live more independently—or just wondering how people used to do things—this one’s a goldmine. See this book at Amazon.

🌿 Growing Food in the Southwest Mountains by Lisa Rayner

At altitude, gardening is a whole different ballgame. This guide is tailored for high-desert and mountain regions, with practical advice for short seasons, wild weather, and soil that refuses to cooperate.  See this book at Amazon.

🌵 Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Garden Guide by Jacqueline A. Soule

More than just veggies—this one covers native plants, flowers, and landscaping that can survive our sunbaked, water-stingy terrain. Great for making things grow without losing your mind (or your water bill). See this book at Amazon.

💧 Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster

Collecting and using rainwater isn’t just smart—it’s often necessary. This book offers practical systems that work even in places where an inch of rain feels like a holiday. See this book at Amazon.

🍲 Coyote Cafe by Mark Miller

Okay, this one’s purely for pleasure. If you like bold Southwestern flavors and want to elevate your home cooking, these recipes bring serious New Mexico flavor to your kitchen. See this book at Amazon.

🛠 The Backyard Homestead: Build Your Self-Sufficient Life by David Toht

From building raised beds to small-scale chicken coops, this DIY guide is a great excuse to buy power tools. Plenty of weekend projects that will actually get used.  See this book at Amazon.

Whether you’re already living the rural life or just dreaming about it, these books have helped me figure things out—sometimes the hard way, sometimes with a laugh, but always with a little more confidence.